Varda

An Ainu, one of the Aratar and a Valar, Varda was Manwe’s spouse and lived with him in Ilmarin on the peak of Taniquetil in Aman. She was the one who created the stars in the skies above Arda. She was also known as Tintalle, Elbereth, and Gilthoniel.​

Varda was known to be the most beautiful of all the Valar, and the Elves or Men could not describe her beauty. Her face radiated the light of Eru Iluvatar. (Who Is The Most Beautiful Being In Tolkien’s Legendarium?) The kingdom she ruled was light, and it was said that her power and joy lie in light. She knew all the regions of Ea. Elves loved and respected her the most as she had created the stars. They would remember her when in despair or trouble, and she would appear before them in white shining form. Ilmare, the chief of the Maiar was her maiden.​

When Melkor started creating his discord, Varda could read his mind and disliked him. She started hating him from that moment, and this made Melkor fear her more than any other being created by Uru. [1] At first, Melkor could not control the light that Varda was associated with, and Varda came to Arda with Manwe and other Valar and helped him rule the kingdom and watch over Middle Earth. During the Spring, Varda filled the Two Lamps with radiant light, collected the dew out of the Two Trees, and prepared for the Awakening with new stars and heavenly bodies.

The Elves saw the stars created by her as the first thing in Middle Earth. She also set the paths of the Sun and the Moon. At first, she had kept the two together, but Este and Irmo pointed out that night-time was necessary for sleep and rest. So Varda changed the courses to keep the Sun hidden for some time when the stars could be seen. She also placed Earendil as a star in the sky at the end of the First Age. She hallowed the Silmarils of Feanor as he made them so that no creature could ever touch them without getting burnt. Because of her creations, the Elves revered Varda and gave her the name ‘Elbereth’.

They called her name when they needed help and sang songs of her praises. When the Two Trees were destroyed, Varda was given the task of filling the world again with light. She used the fruit of Laurelin and flower of Telperion and created such a light that left behind other stars. It was believed that she could hear the prayers of the needy better when Manwe sat beside her on the throne, and listen to the laments of those calling her out from far east to the west. She would often answer the prayers of Elves and other creatures and had helped Sam during his struggle with Shelob during the War of the Ring.​

In Quenya, Varda translates to ‘lofty’ or ‘sublime’. Gilthoniel is a Sindarin name that means ‘kindler of the stars’. The meaning of the word ‘Elentari’ is ‘Queen of the stars’. Varda is most known by the Sindarin name ‘Elbereth Gilthoniel’ that Frodo called out at Weathertop when he wanted to drive away from the Ringwraiths. This name was also used later at other events.​

Some believe that the Valar of Middle Earth resemble angels and sages as they are divine beings with a lower state than the Ultimate Creator. Thus, Varda can equate the Virgin Mary in the Catholic faith that Tolkien follows. He also pays tribute to Greek mythology as the Valar had their own realm that worked at their command just like the ancient Greek Gods. Tolkien intended to create a mythology for his fictional world, and this inspiration worked perfectly for him. According to this consideration, the King of the Valar, Manwe, resembles Zeus, and the wife of Manwe, Varda, and the Queen of the Valar equals the Queen of the Greek Gods. As she was so gorgeous and the Valar loved her so much, she was like the Greek Goddess of Beauty and Love.
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